Principal Data Scientist

Xcede
London
1 month ago
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Associate Director – Data & AI Recruitment

Principal Data Scientist

(Hybrid work in London - roughly 1/2 days a week in London)

We’re partnered with a well-established, tech-driven company that’s redefining how data science supports product innovation and customer experience across its domain. With a strong focus on automation, personalisation, and intelligent decisioning, this organisation is placing data science at the heart of its strategy, investing heavily in both classic ML and next-generation AI capabilities.

This is a company that blends modern product engineering with a fast-moving, high-ownership culture. Their environment encourages experimentation, cross-functional collaboration, and the freedom to shape what “great” looks like in machine learning at scale.

The Role

As a Principal Data Scientist, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s ML capability, both technically and culturally. Working alongside a collaborative data science team, you’ll help embed AI into core product workflows, define best practices across model deployment and experimentation, and support the evolution of their real-time modelling infrastructure.

This is a hybrid hands-on / leadership role, ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of applied research, platform integration, and engineering-minded data science.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Build and deploy a wide variety of models spanning classification, regression, propensity scoring, and LLM-based use cases
  • Spearhead the entire company’s GenAI efforts. The team have multiple LLM projects running but would love a technical leader in this area
  • Own the end-to-end lifecycle of ML projects, from feature engineering to deployment and monitoring
  • Define best practices for model testing, automation, and continuous improvement within a high-performing team
  • Act as a technical thought leader, partnering with stakeholders across Product, Engineering, and Analytics
  • Drive the adoption of real-time decisioning systems and champion the operationalisation of AI
  • Support the upskilling of the wider organisation in modern ML practices, helping teams unlock greater value from data
  • Lead by example in establishing a sustainable, scalable approach to AI delivery

What We’re Looking For

  • 6-10+ years’ experience as a Data Scientist or ML Engineer, with exposure to both traditional ML and generative AI
  • Strong belief in data science as a product, not just a modelling function
  • Clear evidence of commercially successful / or centrally impactful LLM based work for previous companies.
  • Proven track record deploying real-time models into production environments
  • Technical depth in Python, software engineering principles, and deployment tooling
  • Familiarity with experimentation frameworks and model monitoring approaches
  • A pragmatic mindset, able to balance rigour with delivery, and guide stakeholders toward value
  • Prior experience building ML capabilities within product-focused teams or high-growth environments
  • Interest in shaping team norms, mentoring others, and elevating data science maturity

Package includes:

  • Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and strong long-term incentives
  • Comprehensive benefits including private health cover, enhanced leave policies, and personal development support
  • Additional perks such as flexible benefits allowance, paid sabbaticals, mental health support, and lifestyle benefits (e.g. car scheme, dental, gym, and more)

If this role interests you and you would like to find out more (or find out about other roles), please apply here or contact us via (feel free to include a CV for review).

Seniority level

  • Seniority levelNot Applicable

Employment type

  • Employment typeFull-time

Job function

  • Job functionInformation Technology
  • IndustriesSoftware Development

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